Winners and losers after Jeanty’s selection: Miller’s seat cools down

Who benefited the most and who’s on the hot seat after Raiders took Ashton Jeanty in first round

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone and the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster got a major shake-up by taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick. That selection, and who the Raiders didn’t select, has several roster implications.

So let’s dive into who benefited the most and who might be on the hot seat after round one with some winners and losers, in addition to a few takeaways from the rest of the draft hauls in the AFC West.

WINNER: Kolton Miller

Miller sitting out of the team’s voluntary workouts while seeking a contract extension sparked some controversy about his future with the club. That led many to think the Raiders might take either Missouri’s Armand Membou or Texas’ Kelvin Banks sixth overall and then trade Miller. However, the veteran tackle can rest easy Thursday night, and the door might be open for a contract extension after the draft.

LOSER: Raheem Mostert

When Mostert signed in free agency, he was the best back in Las Vegas and had a chance to get the lion’s share of the carries this fall. Now, his best bet is serving as the team’s No. 2, and it’s not out of the question that the 33-year-old won’t make the 53-man roster, especially if the Raiders double-dip at running back later in the draft.

WINNER: Geno Smith

A quarterback’s best friend is a strong running game, but the Raiders’ crop of running backs before Thursday night didn’t exactly strike fear into opposing defenses. Smith’s life should get easier now that the offense has a legitimate threat in the backfield with Jeanty, leading to lighter boxes and more effective play-action passes. That should open up the passing game for a strong-armed quarterback like Smith.

LOSER: Sincere McCormick

McCormick had a strong three-game stretch toward the end of last season to put him in consideration to be the team’s lead back moving forward. But with the Boise State product joining the backfield, McCormick’s best chance at making an impact will be as the offense’s second running back. And he’ll have to compete for that role with Mostert.

WINNER: Devin White

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

The Raiders also have a need at linebacker and could have taken Jalon Walker sixth overall, an off-ball linebacker who can also get pressure as a pass rusher. That’s what White brings to the table as well, so Walker not being the pick means the veteran still has a role on the team. For now, he’ll likely stay penciled in as a starting linebacker heading into training camp.

LOSER: Zamir White

Obviously, there’s a heavy emphasis on running backs in the ‘losers’ list after the team used a Top 10 selection at the position. While the 2022 fourth-round pick was already on the chopping block, he’s getting squeezed out of the building even more now. If White isn’t traded this weekend, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get released in the coming days or cut at the end of training camp.

WINNER: Broncos’ Secondary

Within the division, the Denver Broncos boosted their already strong defense and secondary. Jahdae Barron will likely serve as the Broncos’ No. 2 cornerback behind Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain. Barron also upgrades their nickel spot, where he’ll likely play on third downs with Riley Moss coming off the bench. Between the secondary and the pass rush, throwing the ball will be difficult for opponents in the Mile High City.

LOSER: Chargers’ Passing Game

Outside of Ladd McConkey, the Los Angeles Chargers’ receiving corps could really use a boost. Quentin Johnston and Mike Williams are currently the offense’s No. 2 options, and the unit could use some help at tight end, too. Instead, the Chargers went with running back Omarion Hampton in the first round, while Matthew Golden was the next player off the board.

While Los Angeles lost J.K. Dobbins this offseason, the front office replaced Dobbins with Najee Harris in free agency to be a placeholder for a year. Considering this is a deep running back class, adding a weapon on the perimeter earlier and finding a long-term solution in the backfield later in the draft feels like it would have been the better route.

Granted, Jim Harbaugh’s ground-and-pound offensive approach could be considered a ‘winner’ in this scenario.

WINNER: Patrick Mahomes’ Blind Side

The Super Bowl showed how badly the Kansas City Chiefs needed to shore up their offensive line, especially at left tackle. Josh Simmons is recovering from a knee injury but when healthy, he’s an impressive athlete and one of the best pass-protectors in the draft class. According to Pro Football Focus, the former Buckeye surrendered just one pressure on 158 snaps in pass protection, and it came during the game that he got injured in. The year before, Simmons surrendered just 15 pressures (one sack) on 443 pass protection snaps.

LOSER: RBs Don’t Matter Crowd

Sure, it remains to be seen if Jeanty will pan out. But the ‘running backs don’t matter’ crowd took a hit with the Raiders being willing to spend a premium draft pick at running back. Suck it, analytics nerds!